November 20th, Paul's birthday...

It's been a while since I've been able to get onto the computer. Not that I "couldn't" get on, but I've been keeping really busy lately. Since I moved some of my studio items up to the front foyer, I've been able to get in there and paint whenever I wanted. Bought a book on techniques/tips and have been enjoying practicing the projects. Mostly. *wry grin* I've been knitting like nuts and currently have 2 things on the go. Alia has kindly offered to do the garter stitch on the scarf for her brother. Yay! I cast the sucker on (110 st). It's a thick and chunky yarn being worked on size 13's. It should be done in next to no time. Which is good. I want to mail the stuff off to B.C. sometime next week. 2 things for the girls, one for Jen, and one for Dante. Should I do something for the dogs?

Finished 2 pairs of mittens, one of which I'm happy with. I'll keep the originals and wear them as driving gloves/mitts. They're definitely not warm enough for Winnipeg winter. One more pair to go, and a scarf. Then the Winnipeg contingent is finished. Hooray!

I finished a cute little hat for Miranda. My favorite "Homespun" pattern, but with a different yarn. Or should I say "yarns" since I used 3 different colours. I really hate that the first stitch always looks staggered and stupid. I tried lifting the stitch below and knitting it together with the next one, as it suggests in the darned book, but it actually looks worse. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I'll be searching for an answer on that. Soon.

Working on the same hat pattern for Shauna. Hey! It's a cute hat! I like it. I still want to make another one for Alia and myself. Two hats. Not one to share. Two. I've got this lovely purple Homespun... Maybe after Xmas?

Hey, Dana! Thanks for teaching me to knit. I think. 

Sewing sewing sewing. I've got some sewing to do. Projects are cut and ready to assemble. I'm heading off to Tina's place on Monday (hopefully) and I'll see if she can machine embroider some cute little emblems on the doll sweatshirts. If not, I'll have to sacrifice a bit of material. Note to self: next time, ask Tina to embroider BEFORE cutting out the pattern piece.

*yawn* It's nearly 11:30 pm and I'm pooped. It's been a long-ish day. I have to remember to get on Facebook tomorrow and let my "Preserve the Torbay Coastline" group know that Geoff (the new Deputy Mayor) has brought up a motion (or something like that) to rescind the rezoning of Dominion Hill at the next meeting. Yay! I'll have to ask Madeleine for more details before I go off half-cocked. Still... "Yay!"

Can't talk... knitting...

Making a pair of mittens! First ones ever. I hope the recipient (who shall be nameless until post-Christmas) enjoys them. They're not perfect. Nope. Not by any means. Since I'm using Bernat Satin, they tend to show boo-boos quite well. Oh well. At least she will know they were handknit. Hopefully she'll see the love that went into them, rather than the mistakes. :)

RIP Steve

I was just looking over Paul's Ride the Rock website yesterday. It's something that the motorcyclists 'round these parts have hooked up with. Paul's been able to connect with riders all around Newfoundland and beyond, both online and in person! It's been really incredible. A great community.

However, there was a tragedy a few months back. One of their members was in a head-on crash with a truck when his bike swung wide onto the wrong side of the road on a blind turn. Steve died at the scene. He had been on a month-long holiday, biking and camping across Newfoundland, a dream of his since he'd seen the gorgeous photos posted by some of the Newfoundland members. He was with another of the Ride the Rock members. Nolan just posted the ride report, which is what the riders do upon completion of their trips. It includes photos and brief videos of their time together. Steve's wife and children wrote on the forum, expressing how much it meant to Steve to be involved with the motorbike community and how, although it was painful, the photos and videos helped them through the rough times right after Steve's death.

I was crying before I even saw the darn pictures. Kleenex were flying like snow while Paul scrolled through the report. The report and the photos showed a pair of grown men having a wonderful time, doing their favorite thing (dirt biking). Laughing, having fun, getting to know each other and becoming more comfortable with each other as their friendship (in person rather than just online) grew. There's a video clip of them "hanging around" at a playground, acting like a couple of kids hanging on the monkey bars and swinging on the swings. Smiling, laughing. Good times.

I laughed through my tears because I just couldn't help myself. But it was just so damn sad. I realized that I was seeing the last days in the life of a very nice man. The final photos and video were taken within a few hours of his death.

Life is so fleeting and you never know when your number is going to come up. I wonder if it's a consolation to Steve's family to know that he'd enjoyed his last days...

~ Chris